MOTOCROSS ACTION MID-WEEK REPORT
#WHIPITWEDNESDAY
Rider: Liam Everts
The son of former ten-time World Champion Stefan Everts, Liam Everts has been a notable standout since his minicycle racing. Liam started racing in the European Motocross Championship (EMX) in 2014 in the 65cc class. By the next season, he finished fifth overall and also participated in the FIM Motocross Junior World Championship, securing twelfth place. In 2017, Everts moved up to the 85cc class, achieving third place overall in the EMX Championship in 2018. His success continued at the 2018 Junior World Championships in Horsham, Australia, where he won the opening race. This led to Everts signing a multi-year deal with KTM Racing after his impressive last season in the 85cc class. In 2021, Liam rode full-time in the EMX 250 class, consistently in the top ten with a podium. He made his Grand Prix debut at Riola Sardo and represented Belgium at the Motocross des Nations, contributing to a sixth overall finish and securing fourth place individually in the 250 World Championship class. Liam has an extremely bright future ahead of him and looks to be following in the footsteps of his father Stefan.
TWO-STROKE SPOTLIGHT // BUD RACING YZ125
We all love to build beautiful bikes, especially when they are a two-stroke as exciting as the Bud Racing YZ125! The Bud Racing mechanics were happy to respond to the request of a loyal customer, and here is the bike they built. This bike includes top-notch components like the HGS Factory pipe, HGS Aluminum Silencer, CNC-machined cylinder head, a high-performance piston kit, precision-engineered clutch cover and a programmable CDI/ECU ignition box.
The Bud Racing ECI map switch.
If you’d like to create a build like this, please reach out to BUD Racing for personalized assistance and recommendations, or click here!
EDITORS NOTE: NEW TO THE EDITORIAL TEAM, JUSTIN LEE, WILL WORK ON MID-WEEK REPORT. Please keep those two-stroke (or four-stroke) spotlight submissions coming. If you want your bike or info featured in the “Moto Spotlight,” please email me at [email protected]. All I ask is that you give a breakdown of your bike or moto info and a detailed description. Please also send a few photos of your steed. By submitting your bike or info, you agree to release all ownership rights to the images and copy them to MXA.
SUZUKI SHINES IN THE MUD OF SAN FRANCISCO
Ken Roczen was one of the two Suzukis in the top five overall at the San Francisco Supercross. His quick actions, not only at the start of the event by getting himself out front early in the race but also after a stalling on the top of the first tabletop proved that electric start is not always necessary. After coming to a dead stop in the middle of the track, Ken Roczen kicked the bike over, and it fired right up. He then began climbing through the pack, showing resilience from start to finish. Ken kept continuous momentum in the deep mud and checked off almost every rider on the list to place get on the podium in third place third by the end of the race. Though still early in the season, this was a tremendous rebound after Anaheim 1’s 10th place and a great confidence booster for the former champion. It will be awesome to see how Roczen bounces back in San Diego after such an incredible performance in the worst condition imaginable.
Shane McElrath also put on a great show this past weekend with a fourth place in the 450 main event. This was McElrath’s best finish in the premier class and we look forward to seeing this momentum continue. Like Roczen, both riders RM=Z450s performed perfectly for this type of event. Hardly any smoke exited the bike, and it did not appear to be worrisome throughout the entire moto. Not only is this a testament to his great riding, but also to the men and women on the team who put in countless hours preparing the bikes for these harsh conditions. A great result came out of it, and something Team Suzuki should be very proud of.
NUMBER ONE TAKES THE WIN
Chase Sexton made his way to the top step of the podium once again, this time on his new KTM 450SXF. The current AMA Supercross Champion got out front early thanks to his quick reaction time off the gate. He spent only a brief moment behind Ken Roczen when Sexton pushed wide into turn one. Once regaining the lead, Chase set sail from there, putting in consistent laps for the entire length of the moto. Many doubted that Chase would be able to switch teams for 2024 and be on top again. Chase Sexton proved them all wrong and emerged victorious in San Francisco, all while taking the points lead over Jett Lawrence. It appears it will be a battle throughout the entire season. How will Chase Sexton do in San Diego?
MXA MOTO TRIVIA
Who is this former World Champion? Answer at the bottom of the page.
NEW YEAR THRILLER
Moto 4 Kids Racing dropped the gate on the season opener of their Thriller Beezz Series at Fox Raceway this past Sunday. The Youth-focused racing series drew a large number of nearly 400 entries to the Pala, CA facility.
Start: The 65cc Open – Full Gate!
Purple Gear: Parker Shields leads Brandon Bui in the Supermini (12-16) Class.
PW’s: The littlest of the Future Stars shined bright on the long and technical Fox Raceway track.
Photo Cred: SMX Pictures
RYAN VILLOPOTO & FAMILY SPOTTED AT FOX RACEWAY MOTO 4 KIDS RACE
Ryan Villopoto and his son on the line at the Fox Raceway Moto 4 Kids race this past weekend. – Photo by Dennis Stapleton
Ryan recently inked a new gear deal with FastHouse for him and his family. We saw Ryan on the bike with his new FastHouse setup at the Day in the Dirt race over Thanksgiving week. His kids have the “bug” for racing and we’re happy to see it! -Photo by Dennis Stapleton
DID JETT LAWRENCE ACTUALLY BREAK THE ROOKIE WIN RECORD?
2024 SAN DIEGO SUPERCROSS TRACK MAP
Heading back into a football stadium this weekend, the track will featurs a long start straight down the middle of the infield, leading directly into another right-hand first turn and achallenging rhythm lane. There’s only one whoop section this weekend and no sand section to throw the riders a curve. The keys to this track will be multiple sets of rhythm choices and a good start. With many passing points and very high speeds, it promises to be a great weekend of racing.
SAN FRANCISCO SUPERCROSS BEST IN THE PITS
“SATURDAY AT THE GLEN” RACE REPORT: BIG TURNOUT FOR THE WEEKLY WARS BETWEEN FRIENDLY FOES
R.J. Warda (972) took the 450 Expert class victory with a 1-1 day.
PHOTOS BY DEBBI TAMIETTI
The “Saturday at the Glen” Motocross series got off to the slow start leading into the 2024 series. First, they had to lend their Arroyo race track on consecutive weekends for the 24-Hours of Glen Helen, World Vet Championship, Red Bull Day in the Dirt and Yamaha Blu Cru Invitational and when you throw in Christmas and New Years, the last official “Saturday at the Glen” race was back on December 16, 2023. So, this week was the official opening round of the 2024 “Saturday at the Glen” race season. It will be 25 races long and started this past Saturday, January 13, and will come to an end four days before Christmas. It was good to be back, although the opening round was held on the Glen Helen National track, most “Saturday” racers feel more at home on the Arroyo track, whichi is where it will be this Saturday, January 20.
Souya Nakajima is spending time in the USA to get more riding and racing time in. He won the 250 Expert class.
“Saturday at the Glen” is best known for its down-home feel that is very much like the sport was back in the “good old days.” There are very few rules, a casual atmosphere in the pits, an amazing number of racers who have history going back 20, 30, 40 or more years and a racetrack that is challenging without being a clone of a Supercross track. Glen Helen has two full-size motocross tracks (it also has a factory Supercross track, a Lucas Oil Offroad Truck track, a Stadiumcross track for minis and Pee-Wees , a Stacyc track and hundreds of acres of trails ands fire roads for cross-country races).
Glen Helen is also a very historic place—and not just for its AMA Nationals, FIM Grand Prixs and incredible number of races held every weekend, but, the Arroyo Cycle Park track, now encased in the Glen Helen;s layout was the site of the first-ever 125 National Motocross Championship event back in 1973 . The AMA did not recognizes 125s back then, so in 1973 Arroyo held one. It was won by Ray Lopez on a Penton with Marty Smith second on a Monark.
If you’d like to read the rest of the article click here!
WEEKLY PRIZES IN THE MXA SUPERCROSS FANTASY LEAGUE
Even though the season has started, you can still join for an opportunity to win weekly prizes!
Apple app download: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mxa-fantasy-league/id6473468112
Android app download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mxa.fantasyleague&pcampaignid=web_share
Prepare for a Supercross Fantasy experience like never before! MXA Introduces our cutting-edge app, meticulously crafted to deliver all the action right to your fingertips. Say farewell to web browsers as we usher in a sophisticated, seamless, and completely free platform for you to dive into the world of Supercross Fantasy. While we gear up for the upcoming rider selection entries, you can already engage in intense competitions by joining private parties. Challenge your friends, create groups, and immerse yourself in the competition. You can enter at any point in the 2024 Supercross series (and after that we will have a 2024 AMA Motocross Fantasy game. If you’re using Apple click here and if you’re on Android click here.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK: JORDON SMITH’S RETURN TO THE TOP
“It feels incredible to get this win. I’m going to soak this in for a couple of days, for sure. I felt like I was all alone out there for a little while. I came through the second or third lap, and I couldn’t really see anyone behind me. Then the halfway flag came out, and I was like, ‘Man, I’ve got to do that again?’ It was a shortened race, but it felt longer. I was so pumped to get the win. Especially with it being a mudder and with the situation that I feel like I’m in this year – being a title guy and needing to put myself in that position every week. So I think to be able to pull it off tonight and to make it work when I’m not the best in the mud or not as confident in the mud was huge.”
“I’M HOPING THIS (SAN FRANCISCO) IS A ONE-AND-DONE RACE”
DEAN WILSON SIGNS WITH THE FACTORY RIDE PREMIUM OPTICS RACE PROGRAM
Factory Ride is pleased to announce the addition of Dean Wilson to the Factory Ride Premium Optics race program. Top athlete, jokester, and all-around dedicated ambassador to his sponsors. A world-class racer, Dean brings a rich history to the sport at the highest level of competition and a rapport that is second to none with his fans across the globe. He carries that professionalism on and off the track and we know Wilson’s tenacity and character will be a great fit with the FR family. We will be partnering with Dean for his return to the 450 SX and SMX classes for the 2024 season. We look forward to the continued success that comes with an athlete of Dean Wilson’s caliber. Welcome to the team Dean!
MXA PHOTO OF THE WEEK
One of MXA’s top tier test riders Josh Fout knows his way around a bike and is one of our go-to guys for suspension testing as well as knowledge and insight on the machines in general. He lives in Big Bear, California, and when he isn’t racing motocross he does off-road races—sometimes both on the same weekend. In his spare time he is Josh Mosiman’s 450 National mechanic and his father is the current Over-65 World Vet Motocross Champion.
CLASSIC MXA PHOTO
Factory Yamaha Riders David Vuilleman and Jeremy McGrath preparing for qualifying. Hidden in the back ground is the big number four of Ricky Carmichael who would soon dethrone the “King”
MXA Moto Trivia Answer: The 1964 and 1965 World Champion of Jeff Smith.
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